Sterlite, Tata Power, other Contractors damage forests, wildlife sanctuary in J&K

Sheer violation of SC directions, guidelines

14/08/2017

JAMMU, Aug 13: Some of the Contractors engaged in laying power transmission lines have damaged and defaced the slopes of Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary Shopian. It may be mentioned that the said sanctuary is home to critically endangered Pir Panjal Markhor.
The 341 square kilometer sanctuary, abode to hundreds of animal species like Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, leopard, Tibetan wolf, Himalayan palm civet and the Pir Panjal markhor, has already been under stress due to Mughal Road construction, overgrazing, and other human interferences leading to severe decline in Markhor population.
According to a survey conducted by Wildlife Trust of India in collaboration with Wildlife department Jammu and Kashmir, there was 50 percent decline in population of endangered Pir Panjal Markhor population from 70 in 2003-04 to 35 in 2013-14.
These contractors engaged in laying power transmission lines in Kashmir have evolved a new mechanism of earning huge profit: they are destroying forest cover in return of some penalty, according to some guidelines by the Union Ministry of Power.
It is another legal aspect as to Power being a subject of J&K Govt, how the Union Ministry's guidelines and rules would be applicable here is to be seen. But the damage to the Forests, flora and fauna has been immense. Right from Samba to Amargarth the contractor namely Sterlite is laying transmission lines on BOOT basis (Build , Own, Operate and Tariff) and in this process without caring for the forests and the wildlife the contractor Tata who is working for Sterlite as per sources has damaged the entire forests and the wildlife sanctuary.
Though they have been imposed penalty but that is not in accordance with the J&K govt rules but as per the Union Ministry's guidelines and therefore the Supreme Court directions and Govt guidelines besides the J&K's laws have been violated and for which the penal and legal action should be initiated against these companies and contractors which include arrest, seizure of machinery and prosecution but the J&K Govt instead of taking such action is watching silently as the Companies seem to have managed the show.
The entire belt from Samba to Amargarh has been in one way or the other been damaged just to complete the transmission lines and earn quick money from the State at the cost of environment and wildlife.
Sources in Wildlife Department informed that this company- Sterlite, which has contract of laying power transmission lines, had damaged several hills in Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary in district Shopian, by engaging dumpers and earth movers for construction of roads.
"These roads in Hirapora Sanctuary were used by contractors to transport men and machinery for laying down electric towers on hills for transmission lines", sources said, adding that the damage to the sanctuary was taken seriously by the department, which wrote to the district administration for taking action.
The Wildlife department constituted a committee for accessing the damages caused by construction of roads, which finally submitted their report. "Initially estimation of damages causes amounts to Rs. 2.47 cr penalty, which is to be imposed on contractor", an official of Wildlife department said.
Reportedly, on being asked if the company would be allowed to complete the project on the same design, the official said that the company had approval of state as well as National Board of Wildlife. "They will be allowed to do work manually and not by engaging men and machinery", the official said.
Officials concede that heavy blasting during road construction and unchecked livestock grazing in the premises of sanctuary were the main reasons for decline of Pir-Panjal-Markhor. “Wild animals are very sensitive, heavy explosions used by road contractors and livestock grazing biologically disturbed the animals resulting into decline of Markhor and other species,” a wildlife official said.
Sources in the wildlife department reveal that Sterlite and TATA power who have contracts for laying power transmission lines, have “taken advantage” of summer uprising in Kashmir and laid wire poles violating the rules and guidelines of the wildlife sanctuary.
These agencies, sources said, have sublet their work to local contractors who have defaced the slopes of the sanctuary.
Afshan Dewan, Warden Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, has in a statement given to a local newspapers said that they have taken steps against contractors who have violated the guidelines.
“We have (also) taken issues like raising road side bund and bulldozing slopes, with the concerned authorities of Mughal Road and Power Development Department. We hope in future they will work according to guidelines and will rework on pending work areas,” Dewan added.
Paucity of staff remains a major hurdle for the sanctuary to prevent robbing of wild herbs and overgrazing by cattle herds, which impact the sanctuary habitats.
“We have only four regular staff members to watch the 341 sq km sanctuary, thus sometimes we fail to curb the violators like herbs thieves, cattle and sheep grazers,” Dewan said.
She however said that they have taken initiatives for more plantation and have plans for pasture developments this year.
A contractor engaged with the laying of transmission lines claimed that it was a very calculated move by the Company. "For laying a transmission tower in plain area the total cost is around Rs. 2 Lakhs but for raising a tower at a slope the cost reaches to over Rs. 20 Lakhs", he said, adding that the company was likely to establish over 20 towers in the sanctuary area.
"If a tower is constructed with manual labour, its cost runs in several Lakhs of rupees, whereas with machinery same get reduced. The contractor has already done lot of work and if he would have saved Rs. 10 Lakh from each tower then on an average, he has already saved Rs. 2.40 cr", the contractor alleged, adding that by paying just Rs. 7 Lakhs, he has saved time and other resources. The entire exercise being done by these companies is illegal and violation of the Forest Act and Rules as well as the Wildlife Rules.

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